“Women are from Venus and men are from Mars.” Are women and men truly from different planets?
John Gray’s book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus captured the attention of many when published in 1992 – and for good reasons. The title itself conjures several ideas in one’s mind, even if one has yet to read the book. It suggests that firstly, men and women are two different species from different planets; and secondly, all men and women can be typified by stereotypes. While such claims may sound audacious, they generally hold true. Men and women differ in so many aspects that one can mistake them as species from different planets.
It is a known fact that men and women have different genetic make-ups. Research by the Human Genome Project found that 78 genes separate men from women. This implies that the differences between men and women are already defined at conception. In Brain Sex, Anne Moir found that newborn girls already demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to touch and sound compared to boys, and exhibit a greater interest in communicating with others and maintaining eye contact with adults. Moreover, genetic differences have a significant bearing on the physiological differences between men and women. For example, in times of stress, men tend to retreat from the problem momentarily (to relax with friends at a bar, go to the beach, or exercise) while women meet to discuss possible solutions, ensuring that everyone is well taken-care of. This contrast in approach to stress can be attributed to hormonal differences: while oestrogen in women enhances oxytocin (a hormone released during stress) resulting in calming and nurturing feelings, testosterone produced by men has the opposite effect. As a result of these genetic differences, men and women tend to react differently to the same situation (i.e. physiological differences).
Besides predefined differences since conception, men and women are also nurtured in different environments due to gender stereotypes. We have a propensity to follow expectations and blindly cherish vox populi, perhaps to justify our deeds by appealing to public sentiment. Any deviation from these commonly-held rules is seen as abnormal, wrong, or even deplorable. In society, gender stereotypes are such examples of popularly-held beliefs. Men are aggressive, stoic and excel in math; while women are passive, emotional and perform better in the humanities. These preconceived notions are then perpetuated either by parent to child, or by media outlets. For instance, the well-received cartoon “The Simpsons” reinforces gender stereotypes by portraying the girl, Lisa, as intelligent and well-behaved; the boy, Bart, as naughty and playful; the mother, Marge, as the homemaker and the father, Homer, as the breadwinner. People then experience societal pressure to live by these expectations and perhaps even make a conscientious effort to do so. A 2007 study by Handel, Cahill, and Elkin showed that children who watch significantly more TV display more heavily stereotyped attitudes about boys and girls. The study also found that at a very young age, children can describe the expected behaviours of boys and girls. This study clearly illustrates the impact of gender stereotypes on how people lead their lives and how effective media outlets (especially now in this age of technology where information can be disseminated easily to a wide audience) are as a tool to propagate gender stereotypes. Therefore, men and women differ in their upbringing and because of gender stereotypes defined by society.
The power of gender stereotypes and genetic determinism combine to affect the way people lead their lives. In other words, people’s duties in society are substantially decided by perceived and actual gender differences. Baron-Cohen, in The Essential Difference, suggested that “people with the female brain make the most wonderful counsellors, primary school teachers, nurses, therapists… [while] people with the male brain make the most wonderful scientists, engineers, mechanics, technicians…" But a nurse cannot execute his/her task professionally just by being empathetic and able to communicate with patients and doctors (perceived female traits); he/she must also be able to accurately measure prescribed amounts of medicine to deliver or dispense to the patient, or make clinical observations to facilitate and update the doctor’s prognosis. Put clearly, Baron-Cohen’s suggestions are not based on scientific determination but general observations. These observations show us that gender stereotypes more or less determine one’s duties and thus men and women differ in the sense that they fulfil different societal roles.
“Women are from Venus and men are from Mars.” Are women and men truly from different planets?
John Gray’s book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus captured the attention of many when published in 1992 – and for good reasons. The title itself conjures several ideas in one’s mind, even if one has yet to read the book. It suggests that firstly, men and women are two different species from different planets; and secondly, all men and women can be typified by stereotypes. While such claims may sound audacious, they generally hold true. Men and women differ in so many aspects that one can mistake them as species from different planets.
It is a known fact that men and women have different genetic make-ups. Research by the Human Genome Project found that 78 genes separate men from women. This implies that the differences between men and women are already defined at conception. In Brain Sex, Anne Moir found that newborn girls already demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to touch and sound compared to boys, and exhibit a greater interest in communicating with others and maintaining eye contact with adults. Moreover, genetic differences have a significant bearing on the physiological differences between men and women. For example, in times of stress, men tend to retreat from the problem momentarily (to relax with friends at a bar, go to the beach, or exercise) while women meet to discuss possible solutions, ensuring that everyone is well taken-care of. This contrast in approach to stress can be attributed to hormonal differences: while oestrogen in women enhances oxytocin (a hormone released during stress) resulting in calming and nurturing feelings, testosterone produced by men has the opposite effect. As a result of these genetic differences, men and women tend to react differently to the same situation (i.e. physiological differences).
Besides predefined differences since conception, men and women are also nurtured in different environments due to gender stereotypes. We have a propensity to follow expectations and blindly cherish vox populi, perhaps to justify our deeds by appealing to public sentiment. Any deviation from these commonly-held rules is seen as abnormal, wrong, or even deplorable. In society, gender stereotypes are such examples of popularly-held beliefs. Men are aggressive, stoic and excel in math; while women are passive, emotional and perform better in the humanities. These preconceived notions are then perpetuated either by parent to child, or by media outlets. For instance, the well-received cartoon “The Simpsons” reinforces gender stereotypes by portraying the girl, Lisa, as intelligent and well-behaved; the boy, Bart, as naughty and playful; the mother, Marge, as the homemaker and the father, Homer, as the breadwinner. People then experience societal pressure to live by these expectations and perhaps even make a conscientious effort to do so. A 2007 study by Handel, Cahill, and Elkin showed that children who watch significantly more TV display more heavily stereotyped attitudes about boys and girls. The study also found that at a very young age, children can describe the expected behaviours of boys and girls. This study clearly illustrates the impact of gender stereotypes on how people lead their lives and how effective media outlets (especially now in this age of technology where information can be disseminated easily to a wide audience) are as a tool to propagate gender stereotypes. Therefore, men and women differ in their upbringing and because of gender stereotypes defined by society.
The power of gender stereotypes and genetic determinism combine to affect the way people lead their lives. In other words, people’s duties in society are substantially decided by perceived and actual gender differences. Baron-Cohen, in The Essential Difference, suggested that “people with the female brain make the most wonderful counsellors, primary school teachers, nurses, therapists… [while] people with the male brain make the most wonderful scientists, engineers, mechanics, technicians…" But a nurse cannot execute his/her task professionally just by being empathetic and able to communicate with patients and doctors (perceived female traits); he/she must also be able to accurately measure prescribed amounts of medicine to deliver or dispense to the patient, or make clinical observations to facilitate and update the doctor’s prognosis. Put clearly, Baron-Cohen’s suggestions are not based on scientific determination but general observations. These observations show us that gender stereotypes more or less determine one’s duties and thus men and women differ in the sense that they fulfil different societal roles.